Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the ice climbing wall. Plus the husky and snowmobile safaris

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri and Miriam were absolutely great! Very knowledgable, good company and they spent hours on the phone to arrange everything!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're at the Logging Lodge, bear in mind that it's a 45 min drive from Basecamp. And if you're at Basecamp, there might be a family group staying there at the same time (I preferred the peace and quiet of the Logging Lodge!)

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a 2 hour (?) Huskie sledging trip as part of planned activities and we enjoyed it so much we booked the optional day sledging trip. It was absolutely magical and I can honestly say it was one of the best holiday days I have ever had. Beautiful scenery, lovely dogs, well organised and a very tasty lunch.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bjorn (Teddy) was lovely. He was very chilled but organised and very knowledgeable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Snowmobiling through the Finnish forest, taking my own team of huskies through the national park, skiing by floodlight, having a mini party in our quinzee, the staggering quiet and breathtaking beauty of the landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti was brilliant. It's a big group and I'm sure we tried his patience at times but he was organised, clear and determined to make everything perfect for us. He worked incredibly hard, along with all the staff at Basecamp, and was friendly, approachable and had a good sense of humour. The experience and knowledge he passed on was great, we learnt new fascinating things all the time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Along with your own base layers I would recommend taking your own socks, hat and buff. The first two can be borrowed and the last purchased but it's nicer to have your own (and having your own hat makes you identifiable in pictures!). You only need one pair of shoes, which you can travel in and use for the evening. Budget for the activities not included, but the vast majority of it can go on your room bill or be paid by card at the various locations so you don't have to take much cash at all if you don't want to.

Most Inspirational Moment

Dog-sledding on christmas day...perfect!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bjorn was excellent in every way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a pricey trip.I was tempted by all the extra optional activitites and spent more than £500 on these during the week.

Most Inspirational Moment

The full day with the huskies; such beautiful animals with fabulous personalities – I could easily have spent the whole week doing this activity! Secondly, I really enjoyed cross-country skiing, and loved afternoon laps of the frozen lake with new friends. Apart from a lone local chap doing a spot of ice fishing, the lake was deserted, tranquil and beautiful. Make full use of the equipment available to you, Staff at Basecamp are always available to assist with access to the store-room.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We didn’t have an Exodus guide, Martti, who works at Basecamp, led the group for the week with assistance from several trainee leaders. Martti introduced us to snow shoeing and cross country skiing, and also led the ice-climbing and abseiling options. All staff at Basecamp are friendly, attentive and hardworking.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Once we’d done the snowmobiling, had a mooch around the shops and lunch on the day trip to Ruka, we got a taxi back to Basecamp rather than wait for the coach. However if you get yourself organised, there are things to do, for example, the hiring of fat bikes and cross country skis.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being invited into the home of the Husky owners was delightful. Downhill skiing at Ruka was an unexpected treat because it was so perfect.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jukka is fantastic; friendly, funny and extremely well organised

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes; do it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Husky dog sledding was good. Northern lights on the first night were brilliant!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was brilliant and really friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it and go asap! Everyone should go on the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two fantastic experiences (among many) - seeing the Northern Lights three times! and spending a day driving a husky sled across the magnificent Finnish landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jukka was fantastic - patient, professional, a good teacher and with a sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For outdoot activities take good under layers - merino or similar. The top layers are provided by the centre. Although the temperatures can drop very low, the Basecamp rooms are lovely and warm due to underfloor heating and a log fire in the main block.

Most Inspirational Moment

The optional snowshoe trip to Riisituntiri - we were probably the last group of the year to see the snow-covered trees in all their glory, as high winds blew the snow off shortly after, but the walk up the hill among all the strange troll-shapes was fabulous. The full day dogsled was well worth it; the husky farm was so welcoming and well-run, and the lunch provided was absolutely delicious and very welcome on a cold day! And of course the Northern Lights, though the great display meant we never quite got to finish our game of Cluedo...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jukka was a great group leader, very personable and knowledgeable with a great sense of humour, we were all sad to say goodbye to him at the end of the week. All the other lodge staff were also really fun and friendly and had some great stories to tell about their own adventures.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On the free day, you can buy a pack of sausages from the kitchen and take some logs and kindling, then cook yourself some lunch at one of the firepits along the woodland trails (there are also logs provided at all the woodland huts, but the ones from Basecamp are drier and more reliable). There are also toilets en route so you don't have to drop your kecks in the arctic wind!

Most Inspirational Moment

Stepping outside the main cabin after dinner to watch the northern lights directly above our heads for the next 2 hours! Racing through the sunlit snow behind a team of wonderful huskies! Sleeping out in our very own Quincee, warm as toast in a -12 starlit night! Cooking our reindeer sausages over a campfire in the forest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was Juuka. Very funny, gentle, thoughtful and caring. He had a vast amount of knowledge and skill in the outdoors and made every session special! We understand that he is relatively new in the job but he seemed very confident and had a natural ability to include everyone and bring humour to all situations!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Basecamp kit that is loaned to you is very good and we did not need any of our own apart from under garments. We had very little need for many of our evening clothes and little need for cash as everything could be put on our bill. Go for the optional lunches......they were excellent and plenty of it!